LEADING councillors have agreed to pay up to £185,000 to switch the borough’s streetlights back on.

In November 2013, Essex County Council opted to switch off seven in ten streetlights across the borough between midnight and 5am in a bid to save £130,000.

Highways bosses said it would save £1million a year across the county in energy costs.

Tonight Colchester Council cabinet voted to set aside the money from this year’s £203,000 underspend.

The funding will last one year only for 2015/16 and represents a significant departure from an earlier pledge not to pay for something which is the responsibility of Essex County Council.

No money has been set aside in the 2015/16 budget to pay for lighting in 2016/17.

Essex Highways boss Rodney Bass said: “Firstly, we need to receive the proposal put forward by Colchester Borough Council.

“Once this has been received, we will consider it.”